Threefold Goddess

Maiden. Mother. Crone.

For a long while I have ruminated on the underlying meaning of the Threefold goddess from ancient mythology. On the surface, it is an idealization or embodiment of the best of every woman’s three phases of life.

The Maiden is the embodiment of the virginal young woman; she is untainted, pure, and full of joy and life. She is Artemis, running wild with her companions.

The Mother is the embodiment of the woman who is raising her children; she is wiser and stronger, and her world now intersects with the world of men. She is Demeter, caring for the fruit of the field.

The Crone is the embodiment of the post-menopausal woman; she is worldly-wise and experienced, and she has knowledge to share with the younger generations. She is worthy of honor because of what she has done and what she has been. She is Athena, observing the strivings of men.

In a way, we women have it easier than men when it comes to understanding where we stand in the world. Our phases of life are written on our bodies for even others to see. When a woman begins menstruation, she has passed from being a child to be a Maiden, and it is apparent. When she has a child, she has passed from being a Maiden to be a Mother, and she is inextricably linked to that identity through the link of a living child. When she goes through menopause and loses her ability to bear children, it is obvious that she is now an elder.

With a fragmented, post-ritualistic society, men do not have such clearly marked phases. They must create their own signs to know when they are a man. Indeed, fathering a child does not make a man a Father by default. We hardly have recognizable, influential male Elders at all anymore.

So the Threefold goddess is a deification of the three recognizable phases of womanhood.

What else are they?

Well, they are also a picture of three generations. Grandmother, mother, daughter. In the old days, all three generations could be found in one dwelling, learning from and teaching each other. A good lesson is that three generations of women are much more powerful united than divided.

Men also need the three forces of the goddess united: Men desire the energy of the untouched Maiden, the reproductive power of the Mother, and the tempered knowledge of the Crone. It is true that men must develop their masculinity independent of women, but when they are confident enough in themselves to return to the world of women, the three feminine forces can aid them in their journeys. Even in the Arthurian legends, a knight would sometimes meet three women at the same crossroads, and each would gift him a weapon and piece of advice that readied him for his next encounter with evil.

In the right balance, woman is a refuge for man. The spirit of the Maiden refreshes the spirit of the Man, the spirit of the Mother gives him purpose, and the spirit of the Crone helps him understand. This is correct and should be encouraged.

The threefold goddess also reminds us of the necessity of proper order. The Maiden cannot insist on being given the respect that the Mother garners. The Crone cannot retain the freshness of the Maiden. None of the three cannot and should not exist without giving proper respect to their next phase. The Maiden must use her charms to find a man who can make her a Mother. The Mother must learn from her experiences in order to instruct her daughters and granddaughters as a Crone.

When order is maintained, and respect is upheld, the threefold goddess that exists in woman can be powerful beyond belief. Even in quiet, barely noticeable ways.